BBC Learning English Minute English Mobile phones Doug: Hello, I’m Doug Campbell and this is Minute English Today we’re talking about mobile phones And I’m here with Jackie Dalton – have you got your mobile Jackie? Jackie: Yes, I have Doug – but I’ve turned it off… for six minutes Doug: Okay Well we don’t want your phone ringing during the programme Mobile phones are so popular nowadays And I have a question for you before we start…okay? Jackie: Okay Doug: In Britain we call it a mobile phone In Canada and the United States they call it a different name Which of these names is not a name for a mobile phone in Canada? a) a cell phone b) a cellular phone c) a c phone Jackie: That’s quite tricky I thought it was going be easier than that! Definitely a cell phone is a name Cellular phone sounds a bit odd, but I think you could say it C phone I’ve never heard before so I’ll go with c phone Doug: Okay, well we will check your answer later in the programme Now here’s another question - I asked people in the office about mobile phones and I asked: Could you live without your mobile phone? Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2008 Page of Staff Nooooo! I couldn’t live without my mobile phone It organises everything I in work and in my private life I could live without my mobile phone because I think it encourages me to make unnecessary phone calls Doug: For some people a mobile phone is very important Jackie: Yes, that woman said, “I couldn’t live without my mobile phone.” Doug: Yes, for her it’s not just a phone It organises everything she does in work and in her private life Jackie: Her private life and that’s everything that she does outside of work Her home life Doug: Right, so she can’t live without her mobile but the man - he didn’t think it was important Jackie: Yes, he thought that he would make more phone calls…because he was carrying a mobile But maybe he didn’t really need to make a phone call Doug: By the way you’ll notice that we say to make a phone call Why we say that? Why we make a phone call? I don’t know – you Jackie? Jackie: No, I don’t know It’s strange, isn’t it? Doug: Yes, it’s weird Jackie: Because to make is usually to with to create or something like that, but we just say to make a phone call Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2008 Page of Doug: There’s something else about mobile phones I’m thinking about text messages Jackie: Yeah and I actually use text messages much more than phoning people Doug: But this word text – t.e.x.t - a noun I will send you a text But nowadays, it’s a verb I will text you Text me You’re listening to BBC Learning English.com Okay, let’s hear some answers to that question – Could you live without your mobile phone? Staff Yes, yes, I could easily live without my mobile phone Useful to have around- I don’t miss it when it’s turned off I couldn’t live without my mobile phone and in fact if I accidentally leave it at home I feel really lost without it and I would go back and get it Doug: Okay Jackie, first that man - he doesn’t care about his mobile Jackie: Yes, it’s useful he says but he doesn’t think about it when it’s turned off – he doesn’t miss it Doug: But when you leave it at home – that’s different The woman said that she would go back if she left hers behind And I have to say, I probably would as well What about you Jackie? Jackie: I think if I was leaving home to go to work, I would But if I was going for a walk or something, I absolutely love leaving it behind because it means I won’t be bothered at all Doug: Minute English Actually, I’ve left mine at home today and I don’t like that one bit © bbclearningenglish.com 2008 Page of Doug: And that woman said she would feel lost without her mobile phone Most people like to be contactable – they want to know that people can phone them And when I go out I like to say, “I’m ON my mobile I’m on my mobile.” Jackie: Now we’ve been talking about texting with your mobile and there’s a whole new language with texting of course Doug: Yes, you want to write quickly and so you make shorter words For example, a text message that has the letter u in it What does that mean Jackie? Jackie: Well, the letter u means you as in y.o.u – me and you Doug: Okay, and if I write pls…pls… What does that mean? Jackie: Well that means please – pls – please Doug: Okay and the number - that’s easy – it means to – t.o or too – t.o.o Me too The letter r – what does that mean Jackie? Jackie: That means are are - a.r.e And so the message – Where are you? – becomes – where – then the letter r – then the letter u Where r u? Doug: Where r u? Text messages – that’s one use for a mobile phone Let’s listen again to people talking about their mobiles Jackie: Minute English They are answering the question – Could you live without your mobile? © bbclearningenglish.com 2008 Page of Staff Nooooo! I couldn’t live without my mobile phone It organises everything I in work and in my private life I could live without my mobile phone because I think it encourages me to make unnecessary phone calls Yes, yes, I could easily live without my mobile phone Useful to have around- I don’t miss it when it’s turned off I couldn’t live without my mobile phone and in fact if I accidentally leave it at home I feel really lost without it and I would go back and get it Doug: Before we go, you have the answer to that question Jackie? In Canada we have mobile phones and it’s the same name in the United States Which of these names is not the name for a mobile phone? Is it… a) a cell phone b) a cellular phone c) a c phone Jackie: And I said a c phone Doug: And you’re right Jackie: Am I? Doug: But it’s a good name actually Jackie: It’s nice and quick, isn’t it? Doug: Thanks Jackie That’s all for now – goodbye Jackie: Goodbye Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2008 Page of ... use for a mobile phone Let’s listen again to people talking about their mobiles Jackie: Minute English They are answering the question – Could you live without your mobile? © bbclearningenglish.com... like that, but we just say to make a phone call Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2008 Page of Doug: There’s something else about mobile phones I’m thinking about text messages Jackie:... Doug: Minute English Actually, I’ve left mine at home today and I don’t like that one bit © bbclearningenglish.com 2008 Page of Doug: And that woman said she would feel lost without her mobile